Is Slovakia or Poland more Eastern European orientated?

[asuvis]

What do you all think?

[Peterski]

Between the 14th and 16th centuries Poland established strong ties with our neighbours to the east - areas of present-day Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia. This eastward shift in Polish external politics dragged Poland into wars against Russia and Sweden. Before Polish alliance with Lithuania, Russia was only the enemy of Lithuania. By allying ourselves with Lithuania and expanding eastward, we made Moscow our enemy and this started a series of Polish-Muscovite wars.

Slovakia always had strong ties mainly with their southern neighbours, Hungarians. In fact Slovakia was part of the Crown of Hungary for most of its history. Slovakia has probably stronger ties even with Balkan lands which were also parts of the Crown of Hungary, than with Ukraine (except for the Ukrainian-speaking Rusyn minority in Eastern Slovakia). But Slovaks also have little in common with the German-speaking world, while Poles and Germans have been beighbours for 1000 years.

[Satem]

Definitely Poland, mostly because of historical reasons as Peterski mentioned. Slovaks are oriented only on Czechs, they are true brothers.

[Peterski]

Slovaks are oriented only on Czechs

Historically Slovaks did not live in the same country as Czechs, they were separated by political border for most of history.

Slovakia was called Upper Hungary for most of history. This changed only after 1918 when Czechoslovakia was created.

Of course ethnically they have common roots with Czechs. And Great Moravia was a realm that included both groups.

[Satem]

Historically Slovaks did not live in the same country as Czechs, they were separated by political border for most of history.

Slovakia was called Upper Hungary for most of history. This changed only after 1918 when Czechoslovakia was created.

Of course ethnically they have common roots with Czechs. And Great Moravia was a realm that included both groups.

You are right. My answer was based on recent history(last 100 years) that's why I wrote Slovaks are brothers with Czechs.

[asuvis]

Between the 14th and 16th centuries Poland established strong ties with our neighbours to the east - areas of present-day Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia. This eastward shift in Polish external politics dragged Poland into wars against Russia and Sweden. Before Polish alliance with Lithuania, Russia was only the enemy of Lithuania. By allying ourselves with Lithuania and expanding eastward, we made Moscow our enemy and this started a series of Polish-Muscovite wars.

Slovakia always had strong ties mainly with their southern neighbours, Hungarians. In fact Slovakia was part of the Crown of Hungary for most of its history. Slovakia has probably stronger ties even with Balkan lands which were also parts of the Crown of Hungary, than with Ukraine (except for the Ukrainian-speaking Rusyn minority in Eastern Slovakia). But Slovaks also have little in common with the German-speaking world, while Poles and Germans have been beighbours for 1000 years.

I guess my question from that, Slovakia doesn't seem to fit in Central Europe either, having zero ties to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, etc. Hell when I visited Eastern Slovakia it seemed like nobody really gave a fuck about Poland either.

[Blondie]

I guess my question from that, Slovakia doesn't seem to fit in Central Europe either, having zero ties to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, etc. Hell when I visited Eastern Slovakia it seemed like nobody really gave a fuck about Poland either.

Austria, Germany and Switzerland are all West Europe, Slovakia and Poland are Central Europe.

[Jana]

I guess my question from that, Slovakia doesn't seem to fit in Central Europe either, having zero ties to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, etc. Hell when I visited Eastern Slovakia it seemed like nobody really gave a fuck about Poland either.

Zero ties? Never heard for Habsburg and Austro-Hungarian Empire? Vienna and Bratislava are separated by mere 80 kilometers.

[asuvis]

Austria, Germany and Switzerland are all West Europe, Slovakia and Poland are Central Europe.

Germany and Austria are most certainly central by historical standards and modern definitions, perhaps not Switzerland.

[asuvis]

Zero ties? Never heard for Habsburg and Austro-Hungarian Empire? Vienna and Bratislava are separated by mere 80 kilometers.

Eastern Slovakia, I am well aware west Slovakia is a different setting but have never visited past the Tatras. Also I just never heard them really talk about Austria expect for the empire deal. There were no real Austrians in Slovakia to a large extent anyways historically.